U.S. patent number 11,289,831 [Application Number 17/035,151] was granted by the patent office on 2022-03-29 for terminal block.
This patent grant is currently assigned to WAGO Verwaltungsgesellschaft mbH. The grantee listed for this patent is WAGO VERWALTUNGSGESELLSCHAFT MBH. Invention is credited to Frank Hartmann.
United States Patent |
11,289,831 |
Hartmann |
March 29, 2022 |
Terminal block
Abstract
A conductor connection terminal, having an insulating material
housing, a busbar, a clamping spring and an operating lever which
is pivotably received in the insulating material housing over a
pivoting range and can be pivoted between an open position and a
closed position, wherein the clamping spring has an operating arm
which is deflected via a spring driver of the operating lever at
least in the open position, characterized in that the operating
lever is supported in the open position at a first and a second
support point spaced from the first, and that the operating lever
is pulled against the first and the second support point by a
tensile force of the clamping spring acting on the spring driver
from the operating arm.
Inventors: |
Hartmann; Frank (Minden,
DE) |
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
WAGO VERWALTUNGSGESELLSCHAFT MBH |
Minden |
N/A |
DE |
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Assignee: |
WAGO Verwaltungsgesellschaft
mbH (Minden, DE)
|
Family
ID: |
65995719 |
Appl.
No.: |
17/035,151 |
Filed: |
September 28, 2020 |
Prior Publication Data
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Document
Identifier |
Publication Date |
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US 20210083408 A1 |
Mar 18, 2021 |
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Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
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PCT/EP2019/057858 |
Mar 28, 2019 |
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Foreign Application Priority Data
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Mar 28, 2018 [DE] |
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20 2018 101 731.4 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H01R
9/2675 (20130101); H01R 4/4836 (20130101); H01R
9/2608 (20130101); H01R 9/2416 (20130101); H01R
11/05 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
H01R
4/40 (20060101); H01R 9/26 (20060101); H01R
9/24 (20060101) |
Field of
Search: |
;439/266,436,440,441,488,489,625,729,834,835 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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1025389 |
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Jul 2017 |
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BE |
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10045764 |
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Apr 2001 |
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DE |
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102004018904 |
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Nov 2005 |
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DE |
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102006049772 |
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Apr 2008 |
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DE |
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202010014149 |
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Jan 2012 |
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DE |
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102010015457 |
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Aug 2012 |
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DE |
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102011011080 |
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Aug 2012 |
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DE |
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102012110895 |
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May 2014 |
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DE |
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102014114026 |
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Mar 2016 |
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DE |
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1860735 |
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Nov 2007 |
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EP |
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2857511 |
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Jan 2005 |
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FR |
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WO2017/081001 |
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May 2017 |
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WO |
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Other References
International Search Report dated Jun. 26, 2019 in corresponding
application PCT/EP2019/057858. cited by applicant.
|
Primary Examiner: Mayo, III; William H.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Muncy, Geissler, Olds & Lowe,
P.C.
Parent Case Text
This nonprovisional application is a continuation of International
Application No. PCT/EP2019/057858, which was filed on Mar. 28,
2019, and which claims priority to German Patent Application No. 20
2018 101 731.4, which was filed in Germany on Mar. 28, 2018, and
which are both herein incorporated by reference.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A terminal block comprising: an insulating material housing for
latching onto a support rail; at least one first conductor
connection with a first clamping point for connecting a first
electrical conductor; and at least one second conductor connection
with a second clamping point for connecting a second electrical
conductor, wherein the first conductor connection has a
spring-loaded terminal connection with a clamping spring for
connecting the first electrical conductor to the first clamping
point via spring-loaded clamping, wherein the second conductor
connection has an operating opening for inserting a separate
operating tool for opening the second clamping point or has an
operating element designed as a pusher for opening the second
clamping point, or has an insulation displacement connection or a
screw connection for connecting the second electrical conductor to
the second clamping point, wherein the first conductor connection
has an operating lever that is operable without tools, wherein the
operating lever is pivotably mounted in the insulating material
housing for operating the spring-loaded terminal connection of the
first conductor connection, and wherein the operating lever has a
manual operating section for manually operating the operating
lever.
2. The terminal block according to claim 1, wherein the manual
operating section of the operating lever of the terminal block
projects at least partially beyond the outer contour of the
insulating material housing throughout the entire pivoting
process.
3. The terminal block according to claim 1, wherein the first
conductor connection has a first busbar section to which the first
electrical conductor is connected via the clamping spring, and
wherein the second conductor connection has a third busbar section
to which the second electrical conductor is connected, and wherein
the first busbar section is electrically conductively connected to
the third busbar section or is connectable via an electrical
connection element of the terminal block.
4. The terminal block according to claim 3, wherein the terminal
block has a busbar extending from the first busbar section to the
third busbar section.
5. The terminal block according to claim 3, wherein the operating
lever is adapted to be pivoted between an open position and a
closed position.
6. The terminal block according to claim 5, wherein, in the closed
position, at least an outer surface of the manual operating section
of the operating lever follows a surface contour of the insulating
material housing adjoining the outer surface of the manual
operating section.
7. The terminal block according to claim 5, wherein the operating
lever is designed to be self-retaining in the open position.
8. The terminal block according to claim 6, wherein, in the closed
position, the outer surface of the manual operating section runs in
the longitudinal direction of the operating lever parallel to a
second busbar section which connects the first busbar section to
the third busbar section or runs parallel to the third busbar
section.
9. The terminal block according to claim 1, wherein the first
conductor connection has a first conductor insertion opening, the
second conductor connection has a second conductor insertion
opening and the operating lever is arranged such that at least most
of a longitudinal extension of the operating lever is provided
between the first and the second conductor insertion opening.
10. The terminal block according to claim 9, wherein the first
conductor connection has a first conductor insertion direction in
which the first electrical conductor is guided through the first
conductor insertion opening to the first clamping point, and the
second conductor connection has a second conductor insertion
direction in which the second electrical conductor is guided
through the second conductor insertion opening to the second
clamping point, and wherein the first conductor insertion direction
is arranged obliquely at an angular offset to the second conductor
insertion direction.
11. The terminal block according to claim 10, wherein the angular
offset is at least 30.degree..
12. The terminal block according to claim 1, wherein the terminal
block has at least one support rail fastening element on a support
rail fastening side, via which the terminal block is fastened to
the support rail.
13. The terminal block according to claim 12, wherein a first
conductor insertion opening of the first conductor connection is
completely or at least partially visible in a plan view on a
housing side of the terminal block facing away from the support
rail fastening side.
14. The terminal block according to claim 13, wherein the first
conductor insertion opening is arranged below the operating lever
in a plan view of the housing side of the terminal block facing
away from the support rail fastening side and is completely or at
least partially visible in every pivoted position of the operating
lever.
15. The terminal block according to claim 13, wherein the operating
lever is recessed into the housing side of the terminal block
facing away from the support rail fastening side.
16. The terminal block according to claim 1, wherein the operating
lever, when placed in the open position, automatically maintains
the open position.
17. The terminal block according to claim 1, wherein the operating
lever has a spring driver for operating the clamping spring,
wherein the operating lever is designed to transfer a tensile force
to the clamping spring via the spring driver so as to deflect a
clamping leg of the clamping spring.
18. The terminal block according to claim 1, wherein a tensile
force is manually applied to the operating lever in order to move
the operating lever from the closed position to the open
position.
19. The terminal block according to claim 1, wherein the insulating
material housing has at least one conductor insertion opening for
inserting the first and/or second electrical conductor, and wherein
the at least one conductor insertion opening is designed as part of
the insulating material housing.
20. The terminal block according to claim 1, wherein the operating
lever is mounted in the insulating material housing.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a conductor connection terminal
with an insulating material housing, a clamping spring and an
operating element which is received in the insulating material
housing such that it can pivot over a pivoting range, wherein the
operating lever cooperates with the clamping spring. The clamping
spring can have a clamping leg and/or a contact leg. The clamping
leg can have a clamping tongue. The clamping spring can have a
spring arch adjoining the contact leg. The clamping leg can connect
to the spring arch. The clamping spring can have an operating arm
projecting from the clamping leg. The operating element can
cooperate with the operating arm to move the clamping tongue. The
operating element can, for example, be an operating lever which is
received in the insulating material housing such that it can pivot
over a pivoting range. The conductor connection terminal can also
have a busbar.
The invention also relates to a conductor connection terminal with
an insulating material housing, a clamping spring and an operating
lever, which is received in the insulating material housing such
that it can pivot over a pivoting range and can be pivoted between
an open position and a closed position, wherein the clamping spring
has an operating arm that is deflected at least in the open
position over a spring driver of the operating lever. The conductor
connection terminal can also have a busbar. The two mentioned
embodiments of the conductor connection terminal can also be
advantageously combined with one another.
The invention also relates to a clamping spring of a conductor
connection terminal for connecting an electrical conductor to a
busbar, wherein the clamping spring has a contact leg, a spring
arch adjoining the contact leg and a clamping leg which adjoins the
spring arch and ends with a clamping tongue, wherein an operating
arm projects from the clamping leg, wherein the operating arm has a
driver opening for engagement of a spring driver of an operating
lever of the conductor connection terminal. The operating arm can
have two side webs which are spaced apart from one another. The
operating arm can have a transverse web. The transverse web can
connect the side webs to one another at their free end. The side
webs and the transverse web can enclose the driver opening. Such a
clamping spring is suitable, for example, as a clamping spring of a
conductor connection terminal of the type explained above.
The invention also relates to a conductor connection terminal with
an insulating material housing, a busbar, a clamping spring and an
operating lever which is received in the insulating material
housing such that it can pivot over a pivoting range and can be
pivoted between an open position and a closed position, wherein the
clamping spring has an operating arm, which is deflected via a
spring driver of the operating lever at least in the open position,
wherein the operating lever is supported at least over a portion of
the pivoting range with a support force on the busbar and the
operating lever in the open position can be latched via at least
one fixing element arranged on the operating lever in conjunction
with a counter-fixing element formed on the busbar. The
above-mentioned fixing element can, for example, be the fourth
fixing element explained below. A part of the busbar can serve as
the counter-fixing element, in particular the bent area of the
busbar that is explained below.
The invention also relates to a terminal block with an insulating
material housing for snapping onto a support rail with at least one
first conductor connection with a first clamping point for
connecting a first electrical conductor and at least one second
conductor connection with a second clamping point for connecting a
second electrical conductor, wherein the first conductor connection
has a spring-loaded terminal connection with a clamping spring for
connecting the first electrical conductor to the first clamping
point by means of spring-loaded clamping, wherein the second
conductor connection has an operating opening for inserting a
separate operating tool for opening the second clamping point, or
has an operating element designed as a pusher for opening the
second clamping point, or the second conductor connection has an
insulation displacement connection or a screw connection for
connecting the second electrical conductor to the second clamping
point.
In general, the invention relates to the field of conductor
connection technology using clamping springs.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a
conductor connection terminal, their clamping springs and the
terminal blocks formed therewith.
According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is
provided that the operating lever is supported on the busbar at
least over a partial area of the pivoting range. Accordingly, the
operating lever is supported on the busbar, which enables robust
support of the operating lever and the possibility of fixing it in
certain positions, for example the open position or the closed
position. The busbar can be fixed in the insulating housing, i.e.
other than tolerances, arranged essentially immovably in all three
spatial directions in the insulating housing.
According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is
provided that the operating lever has at least one support
projection for supporting the operating lever on the busbar. In
this way, a defined support surface of the operating lever is
provided via which the operating lever can be supported on the
busbar. The support projection can, for example, project laterally
from a pivoting plane of the operating lever, for example on one
side or on both sides of the operating lever.
According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is
provided that the operating lever has a first guide section, the
busbar has a recess, and the operating lever dips into the recess
in the busbar with the first guide section at least over a partial
area of the pivoting range.
In this way, the operating lever is additionally guided by the
busbar during a pivoting process and is held in a desired pivoting
plane with respect to laterally occurring forces. The recess in the
busbar can, for example, be slot-shaped, i.e. in the form of a
longitudinal slot in the busbar.
According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is
provided that the recess in the busbar is in the form of a slot and
in particular surrounded on the circumferential side by the
material of the busbar. In this way, the recess can form a robust
guide for the first guide section of the operating lever. In
addition, the busbar is not excessively weakened by the recess.
A conductor connection terminal with a clamping spring and a busbar
which has a slot-shaped recess is also to be regarded as an
independent invention. Such a conductor connection terminal can
also advantageously be combined with the other mentioned
embodiments of the conductor connection terminal. The slot-shaped
recess can be used for different purposes, for example for fixing
the busbar in the insulating material housing. Another possible
application for mounting and guiding the operating lever, as
explained above.
According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is
therefore provided that the operating lever is guided in a pivoting
movement at least over a partial area of the pivoting range through
the first guide section in the recess in the busbar.
According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is
provided that the support projection is arranged adjacent to the
first guide section on the operating lever. The support projection
and the first guide section can be spaced apart, for example, by a
groove. In an advantageous embodiment, at least no element with a
guide function is present between the support projection and the
first guide section. The support projection and the first guide
section can have guide surfaces which are at an angle, for example
90.degree., to one another. The support projection can also be
arranged adjacent to the first guide section, for example laterally
offset from the first guide section. In this way, the lateral
guidance of the operating lever via the first guide section can be
combined in a mechanically favorable manner with the support of the
operating lever on the busbar by means of the support
projection.
According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is
provided that the contact leg is supported on the busbar. This has
the advantage that the clamping spring can also be supported
directly on the busbar, which opens up the possibility of providing
a self-supporting contact insert in which there is little force
transmission to the insulating material housing.
According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is
provided that the operating lever is floatingly mounted in the
insulating material housing. Accordingly, the operating lever does
not have a fixed (rigid) axis of rotation but can also move in at
least one other degree of freedom, for example a degree of
displacement, in the course of the pivoting movement. In this way,
the function of the operating lever can be further improved, for
example with regard to fixing the operating lever in the open
position and the closed position. The axis of rotation which is
effective in the respective operating state of the operating lever
is also referred to as the instant center of rotation. The instant
center of rotation can thus be displaceable in the course of the
pivoting movement of the operating lever.
According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is
provided that the busbar has a first busbar section on which a
first clamping point of a first conductor connection of the
conductor connection terminal is formed, and has a second busbar
section, wherein the first busbar section is connected to the
second busbar section via a bent area of the busbar in which the
busbar is bent. In this way, a particularly compact conductor
connection terminal with a lever operation can be realized. In
addition, the bent area and/or the second busbar section can be
used for further functionalities of the conductor connection
terminal, for example for supporting the operating lever, for its
additional guidance when pivoting and/or for fixing it, for
example, in the open position.
According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is
therefore provided that the operating lever is supported on the
busbar at least over a partial area of the pivoting area in the
second busbar section. The contact leg can be mounted in or on the
first busbar section on the busbar.
According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is
provided that in the area supported on the busbar, the operating
lever has a contour adapted to the curvature of the bent area,
which in the open position of the operating lever rests on the
upper side of the bent area and forms a fourth fixing element for
fixing the operating lever on the busbar. In this way, in the open
position, i.e. in the open pivoted state of the operating lever,
the operating lever can be fixed in the adapted contour by positive
engagement of the bent area. The adapted contour thus forms the
fourth fixing element, for example a latching element, for fixing
the operating lever in the open position.
According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is
provided that the bent area forms an interior angle between the
first busbar section and the second busbar section in the range
from 105 to 165 degrees or 120 degrees to 150 degrees. This also
promotes the compact design of the conductor connection terminal.
In addition, an inexpensive conductor insertion direction can be
achieved, for example for applications in terminal blocks.
According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is
provided that the bent area is designed in such a way that the
busbar, starting from the second busbar section, is first bent
concavely with a first radius (R1) and then transitions into a
convex bent section with a second radius (R2). In other words, the
radii of curvature of the first radius R1 and the second radius R2
are oriented in opposite directions. In this way, a type of "hump"
can be implemented in the bent area, which is particularly suitable
for positively latching the operating lever in the open
position.
The bent area can in particular be designed in such a way that the
busbar merges directly from the first radius into the second
radius, without a non-bent area being arranged in between. As a
result of the outlined arrangement with the first radius and the
second radius being bent in the opposite direction, a type of hump
is formed in the busbar, hence a section that is raised in relation
to the adjacent areas of the busbar.
According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is
provided that the recess of the busbar is only arranged in the
second busbar section or extends from the second busbar section
into the bent area or extends from the second busbar section over
the bent area into the first busbar section. In this way, that area
of the busbar that serves to guide the operating lever can be
spatially separated from an area of the busbar that forms a
spring-loaded terminal connection with the clamping spring.
According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the
operating arm has a driving area and the operating lever has a
spring driver which cooperates with the driving area for moving the
clamping tongue. In this way, the clamping tongue can be deflected
by the operating lever. The driving area on the operating arm can,
for example, as will be explained below, be designed as a driving
opening or as a lateral cutout in the operating arm.
According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the
spring driver is arranged at least partially or completely within
the recess of the busbar in the closed position. In this way, the
spring driver is moved far back so that it cannot exert any
influence on the operating arm. In addition, the spring driver also
acts as a guide element that guides the operating lever in the area
of the closed position within the recess of the busbar.
According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the
operating lever is supported on the busbar in that at least one
support projection of the operating lever is supported on a support
area of the busbar facing the operating lever. The support area is
arranged, for example, on an upper side of the busbar. The first
guide section or an element of the operating lever connected to it,
for example the second fixing element, can project through the
recess in the busbar and fulfill a further function. In this way,
the operating lever, in combination with the recess, can act
functionally on both sides of the busbar, that is to say both on
the upper side and on the underside facing away from the upper
side. The operating lever or its element projecting through the
recess can thus interact with a further element of the conductor
connection terminal, for example with a section of the insulating
material housing, as will be explained below with regard to the
second fixing element.
According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is
provided that the spring driver is arranged at least in the closed
position in the bent area of the busbar. This, too, is conducive to
providing a compact conductor connection terminal. That area of the
clamping spring which is to be actuated by the spring driver can
therefore be formed with only a slight projection beyond the
busbar. The spring driver is preferably formed on the first guide
section of the operating lever. As a result of the fact that the
first guide section with the spring driver dips into the
slot-shaped recess of the busbar, a low overall height of the
conductor connection terminal can be achieved. In addition, the
length of the operating arm can also be reduced in this way.
According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is
provided that the busbar has a conductor lead-through opening into
which the contact leg and the clamping tongue dip. As a result, the
conductor connection terminal can be designed to be particularly
compact, in particular with regard to the electrical contact
insert.
According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is
provided that the conductor lead-through opening has wall sections
which project from the busbar plane on all sides and which form a
material passage. This enables good contact of an electrical
conductor and secure mechanical fastening of the electrical
conductor. The material passage can be produced in a manner that is
advantageous in terms of production technology, for example in one
piece from the material of the busbar.
According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is
provided that the conductor connection terminal has a second
conductor connection for connecting a second electrical conductor,
wherein the second conductor connection is electrically
conductively connected to the first conductor connection via the
second busbar section or is connectable via a connecting element.
In this way, several electrical conductors can be connected at the
same time. The conductor connection terminal can, for example, be
designed as a terminal block.
According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is
provided that the first busbar section extends towards its free end
in a direction pointing away from the operating lever. In this way,
the conductor insertion direction for inserting the first
electrical conductor can be arranged favorably.
According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is
provided that, in the closed position, the outer surface of the
manual operating section in the longitudinal direction of the
operating lever runs essentially parallel to a second busbar
section, which connects the first busbar section to the third
busbar section or runs essentially parallel to the third busbar
section. The outer surface of the manual operating section is the
surface that faces away from the insulating material housing in the
closed position when the operating lever is in the closed position.
This allows for the overall height of the terminal block to be
minimized.
According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is
provided that in the closed position, especially if no electrical
conductor is clamped to the first clamping point, the operating arm
initially runs along the first busbar section starting from the
clamping leg and projects beyond the bent area. In this way, the
operating arm can be arranged in a space-saving manner and still be
easily gripped by the spring driver when the operating lever is
moved into the open position.
According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is
provided that the operating arm projects from the clamping leg,
wherein the operating arm has two spaced-apart side webs and a
transverse web connecting the side webs at their free end, wherein
the side webs and the transverse web enclose a driver opening for
engaging a spring driver of the operating lever of the conductor
connection terminal. This allows for favorable force transmission
from the operating lever to the clamping leg with a space-saving
construction of the conductor connection terminal at the same
time.
According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is
provided that the transverse web, in combination with at least one
area of the insulating material housing, forms a safeguard against
pulling the operating lever out of the insulating material housing,
at least when the operating lever is in the open position.
Accordingly, no additional securing means, in particular no
additional components, are required for securing the operating
lever against being pulled out in the open position.
According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is
provided that the area of the insulating material housing, which
forms a safeguard against pulling the operating lever out of the
insulating material housing, forms a stop for the transverse web of
the operating arm.
According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is
provided that the operating lever can be pivoted from a closed
position in which a clamping edge, in particular a clamping edge of
the clamping tongue, forms a clamping point with the busbar for
clamping an electrical conductor, into an open position in which
the clamping edge is lifted from the busbar to open the clamping
point. Accordingly, the closed position of the operating lever
corresponds with a closed position of the clamping point, and the
open position of the operating lever corresponds with an open
clamping point.
According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is
provided that the insulating material housing has an opening which
is covered by the operating lever in the closed position of the
operating lever, wherein the opening leads to the clamping spring
or other electrically conductive components of the conductor
connection terminal. The opening can in particular be designed as a
lever lead-through slot in a canopy of the insulating material
housing. In the closed position, the opening is covered, for
example, by a manual operating section of the operating lever. As a
result, the current-carrying elements within the conductor
connection terminal are shielded from the outside environment, so
that the conductor connection terminal is protected against contact
(finger safety). The canopy can be designed like a housing wall of
the insulating material housing which is offset somewhat inwardly
with respect to the outer contour of the insulating material
housing.
In addition to the aforementioned opening, the insulating material
housing can have a lever opening which allows for the insertion of
the operating lever in a fully assembled insulating material
housing. The aforementioned opening can form part of the lever
opening. In this way, in the case of the conductor connection
terminal according to the invention, the operating lever can be
mounted through the lever opening from above, so to speak, when the
insulating material housing is fully assembled, i.e. without
further lateral openings, for example.
The lever opening can be completely surrounded on the circumference
by the material of the insulating material housing, i.e. by
corresponding walls or other sections of the insulating material
housing. If the operating lever is mounted in its final position in
the conductor connection terminal, at least the manual operating
section projects at least partially from the insulating material
housing, i.e. the operating lever then extends through the lever
opening.
The lever opening can have a simple shape, such as a rectangular
shape in a plan view. The lever opening can also have more complex
shapes. In particular, the lever opening can have a taper, so that
the width of the lever opening changes over its longitudinal
extent. For example, the tapering can be realized by the mentioned
canopy, so that the lever lead-through slot is formed as a narrower
area of the lever opening between the canopy elements. The width of
the lever opening is measured in the transverse direction of the
conductor connection terminal, wherein the direction perpendicular
to the pivoting plane of the operating lever is the transverse
direction of the conductor connection terminal. Here, the second
guide section of the operating lever can dip into the region of the
lever opening formed with the taper when the operating lever is in
the closed position. For this purpose, the operating lever can have
lateral recesses, by means of which the area of the operating
lever, which can dip into the area of the lever opening formed with
the taper, is narrower than adjacent areas, for example narrower
than the manual operating section. In the closed position, the
canopy can be at least partially received in these lateral
recesses.
A canopy plane is defined by the surface of the canopy facing the
outside of the insulating material housing. In the open position,
the spring driver of the operating lever can project outward from
the canopy plane.
The canopy can also serve as a stop and/or support element for the
operating lever when it is in the closed position. For example, the
manual operating section can rest with its underside on the
canopy.
The operating element or the operating lever can in particular be
designed as an integral part of the conductor connection terminal,
in contrast to an operating tool that is not part of the conductor
connection terminal and must be procured separately if a clamping
point of the conductor connection terminal is to be opened. Because
the operating element or the operating lever is designed as an
integral part of the conductor connection terminal, the procurement
of a separate tool is not necessary. The operating element or the
operating lever is then permanently available for operating the
clamping spring.
According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is
provided that the spring driver dips into the opening in the open
position of the operating lever. In this way, the opening of the
insulating material housing can also be filled in the open
position, so that the conductor connection terminal is protected
against contact in the open position. No additional device is
required for this, rather the operating lever with its spring
driver can also fulfill this function.
According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is
provided that the operating lever has a second guide section
projecting towards the lever lead-through slot, through which the
operating lever is guided in the area of the closed position. In
this way, additional guidance of the operating lever in the area of
the closed position can be implemented, in particular in addition
to a lower guide by which the operating lever is guided through its
first guide section in the recess of the busbar.
According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is
provided that the operating lever has at least one laterally
projecting third fixing element on the second guide section by
means of which the operating lever can be fixed in the closed
position in the area of the canopy. This allows for simple and
reliable fixing of the operating lever in the closed position.
According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is
provided that the operating lever has at least one second fixing
element by means of which the operating lever is fixed in the open
position. In this way, too, the operating lever can be securely
fixed in the open position. This fixing can be present as an
alternative or in addition to the previously mentioned fixing by
means of the fourth fixing element on the bent area of the
busbar.
According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is
provided that in the closed position, the second fixing element
dips into a receiving pocket formed in the insulating material
housing. In this way, the operating lever can be secured against
being pulled out in the closed position. In this way, a type of
reset brake can also be created for the operating lever, so that
any lever kickback that occurs is dampened. In particular, this
also prevents the operating lever from coming out or being thrown
out of the insulating material housing in the event of a lever
kickback.
According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is
provided that the operating lever is predominantly located within
the area surrounded by the outer contour of the insulating material
housing in each operating position. This has the advantage that the
operating lever is protected by the insulating material housing and
only little additional external space is required for every
operating state of the operating lever, even when it is pivoted. In
the open position, the operating lever can be located in a
substantial area of its longitudinal extent, at least to at least
30% or at least 40%, within the area surrounded by the outer
contour of the insulating material housing.
The aforementioned operating lever can also be designed as
something other than a lever, for example as an operating slide or
other operating element. Accordingly, the invention also relates to
a conductor connection terminal of the aforementioned type, in
which instead of the operating lever there is an operating element
of some kind for operating the clamping leg.
According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is
provided that in a conductor connection terminal with an operating
element of any design, which cooperates with an operating arm
projecting from the clamping leg to move the clamping tongue, the
operating arm has two spaced-apart side webs and a transverse web
connecting the side webs at their free end, wherein the side webs
and the transverse web enclose a driver opening for engagement of a
spring driver of the operating element of the conductor connection
terminal. This allows for good transmission of force from the
operating element to the operating arm, even with a very compact
design of the conductor connection terminal.
According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is
provided that the spring driver has a width that changes over its
extension, in particular that the spring driver becomes narrower
towards its free end. The width of the spring driver is measured in
the transverse direction of the conductor connection terminal. This
simplifies the introduction of the spring driver into the driver
opening. Accordingly, the spring driver can be designed as follows:
a first and/or second and/or third spring driver area is formed on
the spring driver. Here, the first spring driver area can be
narrower than the second spring driver area. The second spring
driver area may be narrower than the third spring driver area.
The spring driver can additionally or alternatively become narrower
towards its free end in a further dimension than its width, for
example in the direction of its height. The height of the spring
driver is measured in a direction perpendicular to the pivoting
plane of the operating lever and perpendicular to the direction of
the greatest longitudinal extent of the operating lever, i.e. the
overall length of the operating lever.
The design of the spring driver, in that it becomes narrower in
terms of its width towards its free end, can be designed such that
either a continuous reduction in the width and/or a step-like
reduction in the width takes place. Accordingly, at least one step
and/or edge can be present as to the width dimension, wherein the
step does not necessarily have to run at right angles but can run
at any other angle. The design of the spring driver in that its
height becomes narrower towards its free end can be designed in
such a way that either a continuous decrease in height and/or a
step-like decrease in height takes place. Accordingly, at least one
step and/or edge can be present as to the height dimension, wherein
the step does not necessarily have to run at right angles but can
run at any other angle.
According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the
spring driver is designed to be rounded at its free end in the side
view of the operating lever, for example with a radius.
Accordingly, there are no pointed areas and/or edges at the free
end of the spring driver, but instead the aforementioned
rounding.
If the operating lever is pivoted in its pivoting range, the spring
driver also undertakes this pivoting movement with the operating
lever.
Generally speaking, the spring driver can be made relatively long
and slender in the present invention as compared to solutions in
the prior art. The length of the spring driver can be, for example,
at least 20% or at least 25% or at least 30% of the length of the
operating lever in the support area. The area of the operating
lever that extends in the longitudinal direction of the operating
lever from the spring driver to the rear end, which faces away from
the spring driver, is regarded as the support area. The proportion
of the length of the spring driver can be, for example, at least 7%
or at least 8% or at least 9% in relation to the total length of
the operating lever.
According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is
provided that the third spring driver area forms a guide for the
side webs of the operating arm when the operating element is moved
into the open position. Accordingly, the side webs can each
essentially rest on the third spring driver area. This avoids
tilting between the operating arm and the spring driver.
According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is
provided that the operating lever is supported in the open position
on a first and a second support point spaced therefrom and the
operating lever is pulled against the first and second support
point by a tensile force of the clamping spring acting on the
spring driver from the operating arm. This has the advantage that
the operating lever is also held and fixed in the open position by
the tensile force of the clamping spring, which has the advantage
over rigid fixation such as by a latching element, that even in
slight deflections from this actual open position, the operating
lever is withdrawn again towards the open position. In this way,
the operating lever is securely fixed even when external loads
occur, for example strong vibration loads.
The first and the second support point can be arranged on one and
the same element of the conductor connection terminal or on
different components of the conductor connection terminal. One
support point can be formed, for example, on the insulating
material housing, the other support point on the busbar.
According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is
provided that the line of action of the tensile force of the
operating arm extends between the first and the second support
point. In this way, robust fixation of the operating lever in the
open position is easy to implement. It is particularly advantageous
if the line of action of the tensile force of the operating arm
runs in a central area between the first and second support points,
in particular in a range of 30% to 70% of the distance between the
first and second support points.
According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is
provided that the operating arm extends through the first and the
second support points in the open position. As a result, the
conductor connection terminal and in particular the electrical
contact insert can be designed to be particularly compact.
According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is
provided that the operating lever has a second fixing element by
which the operating lever is supported in the open position on the
first support point, wherein the second fixing element forms a
recess in the outer circumference of the operating lever. Such a
recess is understood to be a concave shape of a surface. A bulge is
understood to be a convex shape of a surface. Reliable latching in
the sense of a latching of the operating lever is possible by means
of such recesses and bulges.
According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is
provided that a support surface is formed on the insulating
material housing, which in the open position forms the first
support point, wherein the support surface is part of a bulge of
the insulating material housing.
According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is
provided that the second support point is arranged on the busbar,
in particular in the form of a bulge of the busbar facing the
operating lever.
According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is
provided that the point of application of the tensile force into
the operating lever in the open position is arranged in such a way
that a torque acts on the operating lever, which is counteracted by
the operating lever being supported on the first and second support
points. The operating lever is thus permanently loaded with a
torque when it is in the open position but is held by the support
at the first and the second support points. Accordingly, the
operating lever does not have to be manually held in the open
position.
According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is
provided that a straight connecting line running through the first
and second support points intersects with the operating arm,
wherein an angle from the operating arm to the straight connecting
line is less than 90 degrees. A straight line parallel to the
straight connecting line can also intersect with the operating arm.
In this case, an angle from the operating arm to the straight line
parallel to the straight connecting line is less than 90
degrees.
According to an advantageous development of the invention, it is
provided that the angle from the operating arm to the straight
connecting line or the straight line parallel thereto is greater
than 20.degree., in particular greater than 30.degree. or greater
than 45.degree.. This ensures that the operating lever is supported
particularly securely in the open position. The operating lever
remains securely in the open position even if there is a vibration
load.
According to an advantageous development of the invention, it is
provided that between the plane of a housing surface of the
insulating material housing on which the operating lever projects
from the insulating material housing in the open position and a
spatial plane running perpendicular to the pivoting plane of the
operating lever and running centrally through the manual operating
section of the operating lever, an angle in the range of 60.degree.
to 120.degree. is formed. This allows for the operating lever to be
gripped favorably in the open position as well as an ergonomically
favorable transfer from the closed position to the open position.
In an advantageous embodiment, the angular range can begin at
70.degree., 75.degree. or 80.degree. with respect to the lower
value, instead of at 60.degree.. With regard to its upper value,
the angular range can end at 110.degree., 105.degree. or
100.degree. instead of at 120.degree..
According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is
provided that at least the second support point is formed by two
support surfaces spaced from one another perpendicular to the
pivoting plane of the operating lever, on which the operating lever
is supported. This enables a multi-point support of the operating
lever at spatially distributed points, in particular the
three-point support explained below.
According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is
provided that the operating lever is supported by the two support
surfaces of the second support point and by the first support point
in the manner of a three-point support. As a result, the operating
lever is reliably held in a mechanically defined manner.
Seen in a side view of the operating lever, three support points
can be formed on the circumference of the operating lever. A
central support point (second support point) of these three support
points can be supported on the busbar. The other two support points
(first and third support point), which surround the central support
point, can be supported on the housing of the conductor connection
terminal. The central support point can be designed as a single
support point or as two laterally offset support points. If there
are two central support points, they can be arranged eccentrically
in the transverse direction of the operating lever and accordingly
on both sides of a central plane of the operating lever. For
example, the central support points can be created by the
arrangement of the two eccentric fourth fixing elements described
below.
For the mentioned three-point support in the open position, the
operating lever can accordingly have at least three support points.
The first fixing element or the second fixing element can form such
a support point. In addition, two support points can be formed by
the fourth fixing element. A further (fourth) support point can
also be formed if both the first fixing element and the second
fixing element form such a support point.
According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is
provided that the support surfaces of the second support point are
arranged in respective spatial planes arranged parallel to the
pivoting plane of the operating lever and the first support point
is arranged in a third spatial plane arranged parallel to the first
and second spatial planes, which is arranged between the first and
the second spatial planes. This allows for the operating lever to
be securely supported in the open position. In particular, the
operating lever cannot be inadvertently released, not even when the
conductor connection terminal is subjected to vibration.
According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is
provided that the operating lever is supported in the open position
at least on a first support point, wherein the insulating material
housing has a partition, on one side of which the first support
point is formed and on the opposite side of which the clamping
spring runs along. In this way, the clamping spring can
advantageously be integrated in the insulating material housing in
the area of the partition. The partition can be designed like an
island made of insulating material inside the insulating material
housing. In this way, the insulating material housing is involved
in the support of the operating lever and other functionalities of
the conductor connection terminal. This is also beneficial for a
compact construction of the conductor connection terminal.
According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is
provided that the partition is supported and counter-supported on
the clamping spring with respect to the supporting force applied by
the operating lever at the first support point on the partition.
Accordingly, the partition is, so to speak, clamped between two
forces applied by the clamping spring, namely the support force
transmitted by the operating lever and a counterforce of the
clamping spring. In this way, a self-supporting system can
advantageously be achieved. In addition, a plastic component is
supported in this way against a metal component, which induces or
introduces the force, which is advantageous when exposed to
moisture, which can lead to a reduction in the stability of the
plastic material.
According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is
therefore provided that the partition is supported and
counter-supported against the support force applied by the
operating lever at the first support point on the partition wall
and/or on a spring arch which connects the support leg and a
clamping leg of the clamping spring with each other.
According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is
provided that the supporting force of the operating lever is
brought about by a tensile force transmitted from the operating arm
of the clamping spring to the operating lever. Through the
transmission of a pure tensile force, the components involved in
the force transmission on the part of the clamping spring, such as
parts of the operating arm, can be designed to be very
material-saving and accordingly also space-saving.
According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is
provided that the partition is formed by solid insulating material
or has at least one reinforcement, in particular at least one
rib-shaped reinforcement. The insulating material can be a plastic,
for example.
The embodiments of the clamping spring described below and already
mentioned above are suitable, for example, as clamping springs of a
conductor connection terminal of the type explained above.
The object is also achieved by a clamping spring with a contact
leg, a spring arch adjoining the contact leg and a clamping leg
which adjoins the spring arch and ends with a clamping tongue,
wherein an operating arm projects from the clamping leg and has two
side webs that are integrally molded with the clamping spring and
wherein the side webs are bent out of the clamping leg of the
clamping spring with a mean bending radius, and wherein the
clamping spring is punched and bent from a flat sheet metal with a
predetermined thickness, wherein the ratio of the mean bending
radius to the thickness of the sheet metal is less than 3. The mean
bending radius relates to a material center line of the sheet
metal. In this way, the introduction of the force of the operating
lever into the clamping spring via the operating arm can be
optimized. This results in a direct transmission, a short stroke
and as a result essentially no stretching in the operating arm. In
addition, a construction of this type allows for the components
used for the conductor connection terminal and the entire conductor
connection terminal to be manufactured easily. This embodiment of
the clamping spring can advantageously be combined with all of the
other variants described.
The thickness of the sheet metal of the clamping spring can be
selected in particular depending on the nominal conductor diameter
or nominal conductor cross-section of the conductor connection
terminal, for example as follows:
TABLE-US-00001 Nominal conductor cross- Sheet metal section
thickness 2.5 mm.sup.2 0.34 mm 4 mm.sup.2 0.43 mm 6 mm.sup.2 0.45
mm 10 mm.sup.2 0.55 mm
According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is
provided that the transverse web is adjoined by a tab which
projects from the plane of the driver opening and has a curvature,
wherein the convex surface of the curvature points towards the
driver opening. In this way, a bent support area can be provided on
the operating arm which can rest in a favorable manner on the
spring driver and can slide along on this during a pivoting
movement of the operating lever.
According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is
provided that the tab is formed in one piece with the transverse
web and is bent away from the transverse web. This allows for a
simple production of the clamping spring with the operating arm,
for example in a stamping and bending process.
According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is
provided that the free end of the operating arm is bent with the
transverse web in the direction pointing away from the spring arch.
This makes it possible to provide a strong curvature on the tab
without the need for excessive degrees of deformations during the
bending process.
According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is
provided that an edge formed at the free end of the tab points away
from the driver opening. In this way, excessive wear of the spring
driver of the operating lever is avoided. In particular, contact
between the possibly sharp-edged end edge of the tab and the spring
driver can be avoided.
According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is
provided that the width of the driver opening, which is defined by
the inner distance between the side webs, varies over the
longitudinal extension of the operating arm, in particular with a
reduction in width towards the free end of the operating arm. The
reduction in width can be designed in steps. In this way,
components of different widths can be guided through the driver
opening, for example the spring driver on the one hand and further
components such as parts of the clamping spring, for example the
contact leg, on the other.
According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is
therefore provided that the contact leg extends through the driver
opening, in particular through the wider area of the driver
opening. The wider area of the driver opening is that area in which
the inner distance between the side webs is greater than in one or
more other areas of the driver opening.
According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is
provided that the clamping tongue tapers starting from the root
area towards the clamping edge at the free end. In this way, a
possible tilting of the clamping tongue in an opening in the busbar
can be avoided, for example, due to a possible inclined position of
the clamping spring. That part of the clamping spring at which the
clamping leg branches into the clamping tongue and the operating
arm is regarded as the root area. The root of the clamping tongue
and the root of the operating arm are thus located in this part of
the clamping spring.
According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is
provided that the clamping leg has a clamping leg arch formed
between the spring arch and the root area, and that the operating
arm has a length from the root area to a force application area
designed to act with an operating force on the operating arm, which
is greater than the length of the clamping leg from the root area
to the vertex of the clamping leg arch. This can be achieved for
example in that with respect to operation, the effective length of
the operating arm, measured from the junction of the operating arm
from the clamping leg to the bent support area, is greater than the
length of the clamping leg, measured from the junction of the
operating arm from the clamping leg to the vertex of the spring
arch. In this way, a spring with a shortened buckling length can be
achieved. Such a clamping spring is better protected against
undesired bending or kinking of the clamping leg when a clamped
electrical conductor is pulled from the outside.
According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is
provided that the clamping leg has a clamping leg arch formed
between the spring arch and the root area, which, when the
operating lever is moved from the closed position to the open
position, strikes part of the insulating material housing of the
conductor connection terminal. In this way, the buckling length of
the clamping leg can advantageously be shortened.
According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is
provided that the smallest width of a side web is a maximum of 20%
of the largest width of the clamping leg. In this way, very thin
side webs can be provided, which helps to save material on the
clamping spring and also contributes to the compact design of the
conductor connection terminal. Since the side webs only have to
transmit tensile forces, implementation in a very narrow form is
easily possible.
According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is
provided that the smallest width of a side web is at most four
times the thickness of the sheet metal.
According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is
provided that the operating lever has a spring driver which extends
through the driver opening at least in the open position. In this
way, the clamping leg can be deflected by the spring driver of the
operating lever.
According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is
provided that the spring driver extends through the narrower area
of the driver opening at least in the open position. Since only
tensile forces have to be transmitted through the operating arm and
its side webs, these can be made correspondingly thin, which leads
to savings in the material of the clamping spring. In addition, in
one embodiment of the clamping spring in which at least the
clamping tongue is provided by an area punched out of the operating
arm in which the driver opening is formed, the clamping tongue can
be provided with a relatively large clamping width, which in turn
allows for clamping of relatively large conductor
cross-sections.
According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is
provided that a bent support area is formed on the operating arm in
the area of the curvature of the tab, wherein the operating lever
has a socket support on which the bent support area slides along
the operating arm of the clamping spring when the operating lever
is pivoted. In this way, the bent support area can be guided
reliably, without tilting and with little friction over the
operating lever and slide thereon. The socket support can in
particular be arranged on the spring driver.
The bent support area can have a constant curvature or a varying
curvature. In any case, there is a curvature over the entire
extension of the bent support area and no sharp edge or kink. The
smallest radius of curvature of the bent support area can be
greater than or equal to half the thickness of the sheet metal of
the clamping spring.
According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is
provided that the operating arm, starting from the clamping leg,
initially runs along the first busbar section and projects with at
least a part of the driver opening beyond the bent area of the
busbar. In this way, the spring driver can be inserted into the
driver opening through the busbar without hindrance. In addition,
the conductor connection terminal can be designed to be
particularly compact, for example in that the operating arm extends
closely along the first busbar section.
According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is
provided that the operating arm of the clamping spring at least
partially slides off the busbar when the clamping leg is displaced.
Accordingly, the operating arm is thus additionally guided when the
operating lever is pivoted through the busbar.
In particular in the closed position, when no electrical conductor
is clamped to the clamping point, the operating arm can run at
least approximately parallel to the busbar, for example parallel to
the first busbar section. As a result, the conductor connection
terminal can be created in a particularly compact manner. In this
way, a relatively large lever arm for operating the clamping leg is
also realized. This allows for the operating force of the operating
lever to be reduced. In this essentially parallel area between the
operating arm and the busbar, a small distance can be created
between the operating arm and the busbar, which is also beneficial
for a small-sized construction of the conductor connection
terminal. For example, the distance between the operating arm and
the busbar in this area can be smaller than the material thickness
of the busbar in this area or less than twice the material
thickness of the busbar.
According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is
provided that the operating lever has a spring driver which does
not touch the operating arm in the closed position. Wear between
the spring driver and the operating arm in the closed position is
thus avoided. Here, the spring driver can at least partially extend
into the driver opening.
According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is
provided that the operating lever has a spring driver which, in the
closed position, does not extend into the driver region of the
clamping spring, for example not into the driver opening. This
maximizes the distance between the spring driver and the operating
arm.
According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is
provided that a guide element is formed on the insulating material
housing which, at least in certain operating situations and/or
pivoting positions of the operating lever, forms a housing-side
guide for the operating arm. The operating arm can be guided by the
guide element in particular when the operating lever executes a
pivoting movement close to the open position. This counteracts
excessive deflection or bending of the operating arm, in particular
at the transition to the clamping leg. In addition, as a result of
this configuration, the operating lever initially performs a
certain idle stroke during the pivoting movement from the closed
position to the open position without operating forces originating
from the clamping spring. Thus, the operating lever can initially
be actuated essentially without any effort, for example with the
fingertip, in order to then be able to grip it manually.
According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is
provided that the active load arm of the operating lever is shorter
in the open position than in the closed position. This allows for
an ergonomic operating of the operating lever that is pleasant to
the touch. In particular at the end of the pivoting movement in the
direction of the open position, when the spring force of the
clamping spring increases, the changed transmission ratio keeps the
operating force at a comfortable level, for example at a force
level that is essentially constant over the pivoting angle.
According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is
provided that the transverse web and/or the bent support area
slides along the spring driver, in particular on the socket
support, when the operating lever is moved from the closed position
to the open position and thereby approximates the instantaneous
center of rotation of the operating lever, for example, the
instantaneous center of rotation which is effective in the course
of the pivoting movement of the operating lever. In this way, the
shortening of the load arm during the opening movement of the
operating lever can be realized in a reliable manner. The extent by
which the transverse web approaches the instantaneous center of
rotation of the operating lever when the operating lever moves from
the closed position to the open position can be, for example, at
least 5% or at least 10% of the length of the spring driver,
measured in the longitudinal direction of the operating lever.
According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is
provided that the conductor connection terminal has at least one
force reducing mechanism, by means of which the amount of the
contact force can be reduced when the operating lever is released
from the snapped open position and/or when the operating lever
engages in the open position. In this way, the contact point that
is loaded with the support force is relieved when the operating
lever is released. This has the advantage that the release of the
operating lever is simplified and wear on the components in contact
with one another can be reduced or avoided entirely. By means of
the force reducing mechanism, the amount of the support force can
be reduced to a greater or lesser extent, depending on the
embodiment, up to a complete cancellation of the support force
(support force equal to zero). Accordingly, those components which
are loaded with the contact force at the contact point can be
separated from one another by the force reducing mechanism. For
example, a region of the operating lever supported on the busbar
can be lifted off the busbar.
According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is
provided that the force reducing mechanism is at least partially
formed by mechanical elements of the operating lever, the clamping
spring and/or the insulating material housing. Accordingly, no
additional elements are required to form the force reducing
mechanism or at least essential parts thereof. Accordingly, the
force reducing mechanism can be realized in a very simple manner
without complicated structures.
According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is
provided that the mechanical elements are formed by interacting
contours of the operating lever, the clamping spring and/or the
insulating material housing. This also allows for the force
reducing mechanism to be easily implemented. For example, the force
reducing mechanism can be formed on the operating lever by the
first support point in combination with the point of application of
the clamping spring, for example by the contact point between the
first fixing element of the operating lever and the second latching
edge of the insulating material housing, in combination with the
socket support of the operating lever and the bent support area,
which is formed on the operating arm of the clamping spring. These
two contact points, i.e. the first support point and the contact
point between the operating lever and the clamping spring, can be
arranged in such a way that when the operating lever is moved from
the open position towards the closed position, there is initially a
tilting moment that leads to relieving the load of the contact
point of the operating lever on the busbar and to the
aforementioned lifting at this location.
According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is
provided that the contact force can be reduced by the force
reducing mechanism to an amount which is less than the amount of
the force acting on the operating lever by the clamping spring via
the operating arm. In this way, the contact point between the
fixing element arranged on the operating lever and the
counter-fixing element can be reduced to such an extent that the
aforementioned lifting of the operating lever is made possible at
this location.
According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is
provided that the force reducing mechanism is set up to reduce the
support force by shifting the force of the clamping spring force
acting on the operating lever to another contact point of the
operating lever, at which the operating lever is supported in the
conductor connection terminal. This has the advantage that the
reduction in the contact force produced by the force reducing
mechanism does not produce any disruptive effects for the user and
the user in particular does not feel an excessive increase in the
expenditure of force when releasing the operating lever.
According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is
provided that the operating lever is supported on a main contact
point in the conductor connection terminal, via which the largest
force of the clamping spring acting on the operating lever can be
transmitted to at least one other element of the conductor
connection terminal, wherein the main contact point is
discontinuously displaceable over its pivoting range at least
twice, at least three times or at least four times when the
operating lever is pivoted. The location of the main contact point
can thus be changed several times in the course of the pivoting
movement of the operating lever. In particular, the change can take
place discontinuously, i.e. abruptly. This is also to be regarded
as an independent aspect of the present invention. The
displaceability of the main contact point enables a pivoting
mechanism of the operating lever to be realized, which enables a
comparatively complex, discontinuous sequence of movements, which
in turn enables particular advantages in terms of haptics for the
user and protection of the elements. The comparatively complex
sequence of movements can, however, be made possible by
construction features that can be implemented relatively easily, so
that the conductor connection terminal can nevertheless be provided
inexpensively.
According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is
provided that a first location of the main contact point is formed
in the fixed open position between the busbar and a region of the
operating lever supported on the busbar. The first location of the
main contact point can be, for example, the second support
point.
According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is
provided that the operating lever is supported in the open position
on a first and a second support point spaced therefrom, wherein the
operating lever is supported on the insulating material housing at
the first support point and the operating lever is supported on the
busbar at the second support point, wherein a second location of
the main contact point is formed at the first support point of the
operating lever on the insulating material housing.
According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is
provided that the operating lever has at least one laterally
projecting support element which is spaced apart from the busbar in
the entire pivoting range, and a third location of the main contact
point is formed between the lateral support element of the
operating lever and the insulating material housing. The laterally
projecting support element thus does not have the function of an
axis of rotation in the sense of a fixed support, but only
temporarily forms a support for the operating lever in certain
pivoting situations of the operating lever in the sense of a
support against the insulating material housing.
According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is
provided that the operating lever has a first guide section, which
dips into a recess in the busbar at least over a partial area of
the pivoting area, wherein a fourth location of the main contact
point is formed between the first guide section and the insulating
material housing.
According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is
provided that the operating lever has at least one support
projection for supporting the operating lever on the busbar, which
projects laterally from the operating lever opposite the first
guide section, wherein a fifth location of the main contact point
is formed between the support projection of the operating lever and
the busbar.
According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is
provided that the first support point forms a first instantaneous
center of the pivoting movement of the operating lever when the
operating lever is released from the snapped open position. In this
way, a multiple function of the first support point can
advantageously be created, namely in the open position to support
the operating lever and to fix it, and when releasing the operating
lever as an instantaneous center of rotation and second location of
the main contact point.
The previously described conductor connection terminal can, for
example, be designed as a terminal block, for example as the
terminal block mentioned above.
According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is
provided that the first conductor connection has an operating lever
that can be operated without tools, wherein the operating lever is
pivotably mounted in the insulating material housing for operating
the spring-loaded terminal connection of the first conductor
connection, and the operating lever has a manual operating section
for manually operating the operating lever. This allows for
convenient operation of the first conductor connection without the
need for additional tools.
According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is
provided that the operating section of the operating lever of the
terminal block projects at least partially over the outer contour
of the insulating material housing throughout the entire pivoting
process. In particular, the free end of a manual operating section
(operating handle) of the operating lever can project beyond the
outer contour of the insulating material housing. This allows for
simple operation of the operating lever in the vicinity of the
closed position.
According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is
provided that the operating lever, when it is placed in the open
position, automatically maintains this position in the open
position. This is guaranteed by the construction of the conductor
connection terminal. For example, the automatic holding of the
operating lever in the open position can be implemented by resting
it on the first and second support points. In addition, the
operating lever can be kept in the open position in that it is
pulled against the first and the second support points with a
tensile force exerted by the clamping spring on the operating
lever.
Generally speaking, the operating of the conductor connection
terminal by the operating lever differs from the prior art in that
the operating lever transmits a tensile force to the clamping
spring via its spring driver in order to deflect the clamping leg.
Accordingly, no pressure force is transmitted, as is the case in
operating solutions with a pusher. Another difference is the type
of manual operation of the operating lever in contrast to a pusher.
In the present invention, it is advantageous to apply a tensile
force manually to the operating lever on the manual operating
section in order to move the operating lever from the closed
position to the open position. In the course of this movement, the
manual operating force can also be changed to a pressure force.
In contrast to proposals from the prior art, the conductor
connection terminal according to the invention can be designed such
that the conductor insertion opening is designed as part of the
insulating material housing and not as part of other elements, such
as the operating lever. In this way, good accessibility to the
conductor insertion opening and an electrical conductor introduced
into the conductor insertion opening can be achieved.
According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is
provided that the operating lever is mounted in the insulating
material housing, i.e. corresponding mounting elements are formed
within the insulating material housing.
In the case of the terminal block mentioned, one or more first
conductor connections and/or one or more second conductor
connections can be present.
According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is
provided that the second conductor connection has an operating
opening for inserting a separate operating tool for opening the
second clamping point. This allows for simple manual operating when
opening the second clamping point. While the operating lever is
part of the terminal block, the separate operating tool is not part
of the terminal block and is therefore "separate". The operating
tool can be a screwdriver, for example.
Alternatively, the second clamping point can also have a lever
operating for opening, for example in that the terminal block is
designed with a further operating lever which is used to open the
second clamping point.
According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is
provided that the second conductor connection has an operating
element designed as a pusher for opening the second clamping point.
The lever can be part of the terminal block.
The second conductor connection, like the first conductor
connection, can also be designed as a spring-loaded terminal
connection with a clamping spring for the clamping connection of
the second electrical conductor.
According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is
provided that the second conductor connection has an insulation
displacement connection or a screw connection for connecting a
second electrical conductor. This allows for an alternative
implementation of the second conductor connection if it is not to
be designed as a spring-loaded terminal connection.
According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is
provided that the operating section of the operating lever of the
terminal block projects at least partially beyond the outer contour
of the insulating material housing throughout the entire pivoting
process. This allows for simple manual operating of the operating
lever. The operating lever is easy to grip and easy to operate with
one finger. In addition, the operating section can be easily
felt.
According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is
provided that the first conductor connection has a first busbar
section to which the first electrical conductor can be connected by
means of the clamping spring, and the second conductor connection
has a third busbar section to which the second electrical conductor
can be connected, wherein the first busbar section is electrically
conductively connected to the third busbar section or can be
connected via an electrical connection element of the terminal
block. The first and third busbar sections can be part of a common
busbar, that is to say permanently connected to one another, or
busbar sections which are separate from one another and which are
only connected to one another when required, such as for example in
the case of a disconnecting terminal.
According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is
provided that the terminal block has a busbar that extends from the
first busbar section to the third busbar section. The busbar
accordingly produces an electrically conductive connection from the
first busbar section to the third busbar section. For this purpose,
the busbar can be formed in one piece or composed of individual
parts.
The busbar can run in a straight line or at least substantially in
a straight line in the second busbar section and in the third
busbar section. The busbar can also have one or more gradations in
the second busbar section and/or in the third busbar section, for
example such that, starting from the bent area, a gradation adjoins
in the second busbar section and/or in the third busbar section, by
means of which the further course of the busbar is lower than the
bent area starting from the regions of the second and/or third
busbar sections that precede the bent area. In this way,
lower-lying conductor connection points can be implemented in the
second and/or third busbar section, as a result of which the
conductor connection terminal can be designed to be particularly
compact and small.
According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is
provided that the first conductor connection has a first conductor
insertion opening, the second conductor connection has a second
conductor insertion opening and the operating lever is arranged at
least with the predominant part of its longitudinal extension
between the first and the second conductor insertion opening. In
this way, the operating lever is arranged relatively centrally in
the terminal block and therefore requires little additional
installation space.
According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is
provided that the first conductor connection has a first conductor
insertion direction in which the first electrical conductor can be
guided through the first conductor insertion opening to the first
clamping point, and the second conductor connection has a second
conductor insertion direction in which the second electrical
conductor can be guided through the second conductor insertion
opening to the second clamping point, wherein the first conductor
insertion direction is arranged obliquely to the second conductor
insertion direction by an angular offset. This allows for simple
handling of the terminal block when connecting the first and the
second electrical conductors, in particular if the terminal block
is already attached to a support rail. Both conductor insertion
openings are then easily accessible. The angular offset can be at
least 30.degree., for example.
According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is
provided that the terminal block has at least one support rail
fastening element on a support rail fastening side, by means of
which the terminal block can be fastened to a support rail. This
allows for a reliable and standard-compliant fastening of the
terminal block, as well as a series of a plurality of terminal
blocks, on the support rail.
According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is
provided that the first conductor insertion opening is completely
or at least partially visible in a plan view of the housing side of
the terminal block facing away from the support rail fastening
side. In this way, the user can easily see where the first
electrical conductor is to be inserted, in particular if the
terminal block is already attached to the support rail.
According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is
provided that the first conductor insertion opening is arranged
below the operating lever in a plan view of the housing side of the
terminal block facing away from the support rail fastening side and
is completely or at least partially visible in every pivoted
position of the operating lever. The first conductor insertion
opening thus remains at least partially visible, i.e. it is at
least not completely covered by the operating lever. Nevertheless,
it is possible to arrange the operating lever in an ergonomically
favorable and space-saving manner and, in particular, to allow for
a certain projection of the operating section of the operating
lever beyond the outer contour of the insulating material
housing.
According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is
provided that the operating lever is embedded in the housing side
of the insulating material housing of the terminal block facing
away from the support rail fastening side. This allows for
space-saving accommodation with good accessibility of the operating
lever.
According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is
provided that at least the outer surface of the manual operating
section of the operating lever in the closed position follows the
surface contour of the insulating material housing adjoining the
outer surface of the manual operating section. Accordingly, the
outer surface of the manual operating section adapts to the surface
contour of the insulating material housing, such that there is
essentially no shoulder or step-like transition there. Thus, the
outer surface of the manual operating section can form a continuous
surface with the housing top side of the insulating material
housing.
According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is
provided that the operating lever is designed to be self-retaining
in the open position. This has the advantage that the operating
lever does not have to be held by the user. The operating lever can
be latched, for example, by one or more of the first, second or
fourth fixing elements.
In the context of the present invention, the undefined term "a" is
not to be understood as a numerical word. If, for example, a
component is mentioned, this is to be interpreted in the sense of
"at least one component". As far as angles are given in degrees,
these refer to a circle of 360 degrees (360.degree.).
Further scope of applicability of the present invention will become
apparent from the detailed description given hereinafter. However,
it should be understood that the detailed description and specific
examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention,
are given by way of illustration only, since various changes,
combinations, and modifications within the spirit and scope of the
invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from
this detailed description.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The present invention will become more fully understood from the
detailed description given hereinbelow and the accompanying
drawings which are given by way of illustration only, and thus, are
not limitive of the present invention, and wherein:
FIG. 1 shows a conductor connection terminal in a sectional side
view in the closed position;
FIG. 2 shows the conductor connection terminal of FIG. 1 in a
sectional side view in a further sectional plane;
FIG. 3 shows the conductor connection terminal according to FIG. 1
in a sectional side view with the operating lever partially
open;
FIG. 4 shows the conductor connection terminal according to FIG. 1
in a sectional side view in the open position;
FIG. 4a shows the conductor connection terminal according to FIG. 1
in a side view in the open position;
FIG. 5 shows the conductor connection terminal according to FIGS. 1
to 4 in the cutting plane F labeled in FIG. 4;
FIG. 6 shows the connection terminal according to FIGS. 1 to 4 in
the sectional plane G labeled in FIG. 4;
FIG. 7 shows an operating lever in a front view;
FIG. 8 shows the operating lever according to FIG. 7 in a side
view;
FIGS. 9 and 9a show the operating lever according to FIGS. 7 and 8
in a perspective view;
FIG. 9b shows the conductor connection terminal according to FIG. 1
in a perspective view in the open position;
FIG. 9c shows the operating lever according to FIG. 7 in a side
view;
FIG. 10 shows a clamping spring in a side view;
FIG. 11 shows the clamping spring according to FIG. 10 in a
perspective view;
FIG. 12 shows an arrangement of the operating lever according to
FIGS. 7 to 9 and the clamping spring according to FIGS. 10 to 11 in
a perspective view;
FIG. 13 shows a busbar in a perspective view;
FIG. 14 shows the busbar according to FIG. 13 in a side view;
FIG. 15 shows a hybrid terminal block in a perspective view;
FIG. 16 shows a further embodiment of a clamping spring in a side
view;
FIG. 17 shows the clamping spring according to FIG. 16 in a
perspective view;
FIG. 18 shows a conductor connection terminal in a view comparable
to FIG. 1 and a clamping spring according to FIGS. 16 to 17;
FIG. 19 shows another side view of the conductor connection
terminal according to FIG. 4; and
FIGS. 20-22 show the sequence of movements when moving the
operating lever from the open position in the direction of the
closed position and back.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
The conductor connection terminal 1 has an insulating material
housing 2, a busbar 3, a clamping spring 4 and, as an operating
element for operating the clamping spring 4, an operating lever
5.
The insulating material housing 2 has a conductor insertion opening
20 through which an electrical conductor can be inserted in a
conductor insertion direction L1 and guided to a first clamping
point 7 of a first conductor connection 6, where the electrical
conductor can be clamped by spring force by means of the clamping
spring 4 and the busbar 3. The insulating material housing 2 also
has a busbar duct 22 through which at least a part of the busbar 3
is guided and is at least partially fixed and/or supported
there.
The busbar 3 has a first busbar section 30 and a second busbar
section 31. The first busbar section 30 is connected to the second
busbar section via a bent area 35, so that the busbar 3 as a whole
has a bent and/or angled shape. The second busbar section 31 is
arranged at least predominantly within the busbar duct 22. The
busbar 3 has a conductor lead-through opening 36 in the first
busbar section 30, through which an electrical conductor that is to
be clamped can be guided. The conductor lead-through opening 36 can
be surrounded by side walls formed on the first busbar section 30,
which e.g. can be designed in the form of a material passage 32.
For example, the conductor lead-through opening 36 can have wall
sections projecting on all sides from the busbar plane, which form
the material passage 32.
The clamping spring 4 has a contact leg 40 by means of which the
clamping spring 4 is supported against the spring forces introduced
by the clamping leg 43. The contact leg 40 can be supported in the
first busbar section 30 on the busbar 3. As shown, the support
takes place, for example, in that the free end of the contact leg
40 rests against the inside of the conductor lead-through opening
36 and/or the material passage 32. The clamping spring 4 extends
from the contact leg 40 further over the spring arch 41 to the
clamping leg 43. The operating arm 42 projects from the clamping
leg 43, wherein the operating arm 42 is bent at a relatively large
angle, for example greater than 45 degrees or greater than or equal
to 90 degrees, from the clamping leg 43. The operating arm 42 ends
at its free end with a transverse web 48 which, at its end,
delimits the driver opening 46, which cannot be seen in FIG. 1. In
the free end area of the operating arm 42, a material section of
the clamping spring material is bent to form a tab 93 which
projects from the remaining course of the operating arm 42 and
which has at least part of a bent support area 49 of the operating
arm 42. The bent support area 49, together with the socket support
59 of the operating lever 5, forms a type of mounting made up of a
cylinder and a cylindrical shell, similar to a ball-and-socket
bearing.
In addition, the clamping leg 43 extends to a clamping tongue 44,
which is bent from the clamping leg 43 in the opposite direction
than the operating arm 42. The clamping tongue 44 ends at the free
end of the clamping leg 43 with a clamping edge 45. The clamping
edge 45, together with the busbar 3, i.e. the conductor
lead-through opening 36 and/or the material passage 32, forms the
first clamping point 7 of the first conductor connection 6 for an
electrical conductor to be clamped there. Accordingly, the contact
leg 40 and the clamping tongue 44 dip into the conductor
lead-through opening 36.
The conductor connection terminal 1 has an operating lever 5 which
is predominantly arranged in the area surrounding the insulating
material housing 2 and which essentially extends outward with a
manual operating section 50, for example an operating handle, where
the operating lever 5 can be actuated manually. The first clamping
point 7 can be opened or closed by manually operating the operating
lever 5. If the operating lever 5 is in the closed position shown
in FIG. 1, the first clamping point 7 is also closed. If the
operating lever 5 is moved to the open position (as shown in FIG.
4), the first clamping point 7 is open. In this open position, an
electrical conductor can be inserted into or removed from the first
clamping point 7 without any effort, since operating the operating
lever 5 moves the clamping edge 45 away from its contact point on
the busbar 3 or the electrical conductor.
The conductor insertion direction L1 can be oriented obliquely to
the extension direction of the manual operating section 50.
Accordingly, an angle can be formed between the extension of the
outer surface of the manual operating section 50, which runs
approximately flush with the housing surface, and the conductor
insertion direction L1. The angle can be relatively small, e.g. in
the range of 20 to 60 degrees.
The operating lever 5 is pivotably mounted in the insulating
material housing 2. In this case, no fixed support axis is
provided, rather the operating lever 5 can also perform certain
displacement movements in the course of a pivoting movement from
the closed position to the open position and vice versa.
The operating lever 5 has a test recess 51 penetrating the
operating lever 5, e.g. in the area of the manual operating section
50. In the closed position, the test recess 51 is essentially
aligned with the test opening 23 of the insulating material housing
2. The test opening 23 extends as far as the clamping spring 4,
e.g. up to the spring arch 41. If a test pin is inserted through
the test recess 51 and the test opening 23, the clamping spring 4
can be electrically contacted in this way and an electrical
measurement can be carried out. The clamping spring 4 is fixed via
an overload protection element 29, so that a counter support is
created for the test pin. In addition, excessive movement and
stress on the clamping spring 4 is prevented by the overload
protection element 29 in the insulating material housing 2. The
overload protection element 29 can be designed as an island-shaped
material area of the insulating material housing 2, which is
arranged within the spring arch 41.
In the open position, the clamping spring 4 can rest against the
overload protection element 29, that is, it can strike against the
overload protection element 29 with one or more areas, for example
the spring arch 41 and/or the clamping leg 43.
In several respects, the operating lever 5 is guided, mounted and
fixed in certain positions such as the closed position and the open
position in the conductor connection terminal 1. For this purpose,
the operating lever 5 has a first fixing element 52 in the lower
area, i.e. the part of the operating lever 5 remote from the manual
operating section 50, and a second fixing element 53 in the rear
area, i.e. the area facing away from the spring driver 54. The
first and/or the second fixing element 52, 53 can be designed as a
latching element, for example. The first and/or the second fixing
element 52, 53 can be designed as a material projection or cam. The
fixing elements 52, 53 can be molded directly onto the material of
the operating lever 5. The operating lever 5 also has a first guide
section 57 via which the operating lever 5 is guided in a pivoting
movement, in particular in the busbar 3, and is secured against
tilting sideways. The first guide section 57 runs through a recess
33 in the busbar 3, for example a recess 33 in the first busbar
section 31. The recess can be designed as a longitudinal slot, for
example. If the operating lever 5 is pivoted, for example from the
closed position to the open position, the first guide section 57
runs through this recess 33. It can also be provided that during a
pivoting movement, the operating lever 5 runs along an inner guide
contour of the insulating material housing with the second fixing
element 53 and is additionally supported and/or guided by this.
As mentioned, the operating lever 5 is used to actuate the clamping
spring 4. For this purpose, the operating lever 5 has a spring
driver 54, which is shaped like a driver tooth and in the assembled
state projects from the operating lever 5 in the direction of the
clamping spring 4, in particular in the direction of the operating
arm 42. Here, the spring driver 54 is initially not in engagement
with the operating arm 42 in the closed position, so that in this
closed position no spring load acts on the operating lever 5. The
spring driver 54 can be located, for example, in the region of the
bent area 35 of the busbar 3, at least in the closed position. The
spring driver 54 merges at a bent inner contour of the operating
lever 5 into a support area of the operating lever 5, which in this
case forms a socket support 59. As will be explained below, this
socket support 59 interacts with the bent support area 49 of the
clamping spring 4 when the operating lever 5 is pivoted.
The operating lever 5 is fixed in the closed position shown in FIG.
1 by other means than the first and second fixing element 52, 53.
In the closed position, the second fixing element 53 is arranged
within a free space in the insulating material housing 2, namely in
a receiving pocket 28. The second fixing element 52 is located in
the vicinity of a first latching edge 21 of the insulating material
housing 2, which, however, has no essential function in the closed
position. In the insulating material housing 2, a second latching
edge 91 is also formed, which has a function, as will be described
below, in the open position of the operating lever 5. Likewise,
hereinafter, the structure and operation of the second guide
section 55 of the operating lever 5 are explained with reference to
further figures. By receiving the second fixing element 53 in the
receiving pocket 28, the operating lever 5 can be secured in the
closed position against falling out of the insulating material
housing 2. Furthermore, receiving the second fixing element 53 in
the receiving pocket 28 ensures that the operating lever 5 is
unscrewed in the event of a kickback when the operating lever 5 is
transferred from the open position to the closed position. A
further safeguard against falling out or removal of the operating
lever 5 is achieved by the canopy 24, in particular in the open
position.
A guide element 95 is also formed on the insulating material
housing 2. The guide element 95 forms, at least in certain
operating situations and/or pivoting positions of the operating
lever 5, a housing-side guide for the operating arm 42. For
example, at least temporarily during a pivoting movement of the
operating lever, the operating arm 42 can slide along the guide
element 95 into the open position.
The conductor connection terminal 1 seen in FIG. 1 can be designed
as a single connection terminal, as shown, or as part of a
conductor connection terminal comprising further conductor
connections, e.g. as part of the conductor connection terminal
explained below with reference to FIG. 15.
As a further feature of the insulating material housing 2, FIG. 2
shows a canopy 24 arranged below the manual operating section 50,
i.e. a kind of boundary wall of the insulating material housing 2,
which ensures that the current-carrying elements within the
conductor connection terminal 1 are shielded from the outside
environment, so that contact safety (finger safety) of the
conductor connection terminal 1 is created in particular in the
open position of the operating lever 5. The canopy 24 cooperates
with the second guide section 55, as will be explained below on the
basis of other cross-sectional drawings.
It can also be seen that the outer surface 65 of the manual
operating section 50 runs essentially parallel to the second busbar
section 31 and/or the third busbar section 37, which will be
explained below.
First of all, the mode of operation of the operating lever 5 during
a pivoting process will be explained with reference to FIG. 3,
starting from the closed position shown in FIG. 1. In FIG. 3, the
operating lever 5 is not yet completely in the open position, but
just in front of it. While the spring driver 54 does not dip into
the driver opening 46 in the closed position, the spring driver 54
then engages in the driver opening 46 when the operating lever 5
pivots from the closed position into the open position.
The enlarged detail A, B and C shown in FIG. 3 is intended to
clarify some relevant elements of the operating lever 5 and their
interaction with other elements of the conductor connection
terminal 1.
It can be seen from the Illustration A that the first fixing
element 52 is shortly before reaching the second latching edge 91.
Likewise, as shown in Illustration C, the second fixing element 53
is just before reaching the first latching edge 21. The rear stop
94 of the operating lever 5 on the insulating housing 2 in the area
of the outer surface of the insulating material housing now serves
as a stop and a pivot point for the operating lever 5 in the
further movement of the operating lever 5 so as to reach the open
position according to FIG. 4. During this further movement, the
spring driver 54 is initially moved essentially in a translatory
manner along the second busbar section 31. As soon as the second
fixing element 53 crosses the first latching edge 21, the operating
lever 5 executes a "downward movement" by the spring force applied
to the spring driver 54 that is essentially vertically oriented for
translational movement.
The Illustration B shows how the operating arm 42 has been gripped
at the end by the spring driver 54 and is guided on via the socket
support 59. With regard to its shape, i.e. with regard to the
concave inner contour, the socket support 59 is adapted to the
convex outer contour of the bent support area 49, so that the bent
support area 49 can slide within the socket support 59 with little
friction. As the overall view of the conductor connection terminal
in FIG. 3 shows, the operating arm 42 is deflected and accordingly,
the clamping leg 43 is moved along with it, so that the clamping
tongue 44 is moved from its original position shown in FIG. 1. It
can also be seen that in the described construction, the effective
load arm of the operating lever 5 is shortened during an opening
movement, since the bent support area 49 slides along the socket
support 59 and thereby approaches the virtual pivot axis of the
operating lever 5.
FIG. 4 shows the operating lever 5 now in the open position, i.e.
at the end of the pivoting movement. In this open position, the
operating lever 5 can still be over-pivoted about a small pivoting
angle, e.g. a maximum of 5 degrees or a maximum of 10 degrees, to
be resistant to damage, but the actual open position is already
reached in the position shown in FIG. 4. If the operating lever 5
is over-pressed, this over-pressing movement is limited by a rear
stop 94 on the insulating material housing. In relation to the
entire pivoting path or pivoting angle of the operating lever 5,
the overbending angle range of the operating lever 5 amounts to a
maximum of 5% of the entire pivoting angle range until the rear
stop 94 is reached.
The operating lever 5 is located in each operating position,
predominantly within the area surrounded by the outer contour 27 of
the insulating material housing 2. In particular, the operating
lever 5 is also in the open position in a substantial area of its
longitudinal extent, not less than at least 30% or at least 40%,
within the area surrounded by the outer contour 27 of the
insulating material housing 2. In this way, the operating lever 5
is mounted in a particularly robust manner and therefore cannot be
damaged so easily and/or cannot tilt so easily. A robust support of
the operating lever 5 in the insulating material housing 2 is
achieved.
As the enlarged detailed representations in the enlargements D and
E show, the first fixing element 52 is now latched behind the
second latching edge 91, and the second fixing element 53 is
latched behind the first latching edge 21. The operating lever 5 in
this case has in this case, i.e. in the transition from the
position according to FIG. 3 to the position according to FIG. 4,
in addition to the pure pivoting or rotating movement, also
executed a sliding movement, that is, it has moved by a certain
displacement path oriented along the second busbar section 31
towards the first clamping point 7 in order to lift a fourth fixing
element 64 over the bent area 35 of the busbar 3 and then lower it
into a dead center position vertically to the displacement
movement, so that at least a part of the bent area 35 engages in
the fourth fixing element 64 in a form-fitting manner. This
displacement movement does not have to be carried out by the user
but instead is caused by the stop 94 and the spring tension action
with which the operating arm 42 impacts the operating lever 5. As
can be seen in FIG. 4, the operating lever 5 is now securely held
in this position by the pulling force exerted by the operating arm
42 pulling the operating lever 5 against corresponding support
points 84, 85, which are respectively arranged to the left and
right of the line of action of the pulling force, namely on the one
hand a first support point 84, which is formed between the first
fixing element 52 and the second latching edge 91, and on the other
hand a second support point 85 in the region of the cutout F. This
second support point 85 can be formed between the fourth fixing
element 64 and a corresponding bent area 35 of the busbar.
With the opposite movement of the operating lever 5, i.e. from the
open position to the closed position, the contact between the
fourth fixing element 64 and the bent area 35 on the busbar 3 is
eliminated at the second support point 85 by the second fixing
element 53 sliding up over the first latching edge 21 (see also
cutout C, FIG. 3). In this case, the operating lever 5 initially
rotates about the first support point 84 between the first fixing
element 52 and the second latching edge 91. Wear on the fourth
fixing element 64 is thus avoided.
Thus, in the open position, the position of the operating lever 5
can be secured via a two-point support of the operating lever 5 on
the insulating material housing 2 and/or the busbar 3 and the
essentially central force application of the clamping spring 4 via
the operating arm 42. This type of force transmission creates a
kind of funnel shape of the force effects, by means of which the
operating lever 5 is secured particularly reliably against
undesired changes in position, for example due to vibrations.
FIG. 4a illustrates, in particular through the exploded cutout H,
how the fourth fixing element 64 rests on the bent area 35 and is
fixed there in a form-fitting manner. The second fixing element 53
projects through the recess 33 of the busbar 3, so that a part of
the second fixing element 53 projects below the second busbar
section 31 and can be seen there.
FIG. 4a also illustrates the support of the bent support area 49 of
the operating arm 42 on the socket support 59.
FIG. 4 also shows that an electrical conductor 92 with an area
stripped at the end is inserted into the conductor connection
terminal 1 and the stripped area is arranged in the area of the
first clamping point 7. If the operating lever 5 is now moved back
into the closed position, the clamping leg 43 springs back until
the clamping edge 45 rests against the stripped area of the
electrical conductor 92 and presses it against the busbar 3, e.g.
against the inside of the conductor lead-through opening 36 or the
material passage 32.
Between the contact leg 40 and/or the spring arch 41 and an inner
area of the insulating material housing 2, in which the second
guide section 55 is arranged in the closed position and the spring
driver 54 in the open position, there is a partition 26 of the
insulating material housing 2, which has the second latching edge
91. This partition 26 provides an additional separation between the
operating lever 5 and the electrical components, in particular the
clamping spring 4.
Another positive aspect of this construction is that the partition
26 is in turn supported and counter-supported by the clamping
spring 4 against the support force of the operating lever 5 at the
first support point 84, since the clamping spring 4 in the area of
the contact leg 40 and/or the spring arch 41 presses from the
opposite side against the partition 26. In this way, a
self-supporting system can advantageously be created. In addition,
a plastic component is supported in this way against a metal
component, which induces or introduces the force, which is
advantageous when exposed to moisture that can lead to a reduction
in the stability of the plastic material.
FIG. 4 illustrates two sectional planes F and G. The corresponding
sectional views are shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, wherein the operating
lever 5 is in the closed position. As the sectional illustration of
FIG. 5 in the sectional plane F shows, the operating lever 5 is
arranged with its first guide section 57 in the recess 33 in the
second busbar section 31 and is guided longitudinally therein. For
additional guidance and mounting, the operating lever 5 has
laterally projecting support elements 56 which can be designed like
support journals. However, via these lateral support elements 56,
the operating lever 5 is not fixedly mounted about an unchangeable
axis of rotation, but rather can be displaced to a certain extent.
In this way, the operating lever is mounted to be "floating" in the
insulating material housing 2.
It can also be seen that the operating lever 5 is supported by
laterally projecting shoulder-shaped support projections 58 on the
upper side of the busbar 3, in particular in the second busbar
region 31. In particular in the open position, the support
projection 58 can form a support point for the operating lever 5 on
the busbar 3, wherein the support point can be arranged in the bent
area 35.
The first fixing element 52 can also run along an inner guide
contour of the insulating material housing during a pivoting
movement of the operating lever 5, for example during a pivoting
movement from the open position into the closed position. In this
case, the contact between the support projection 58 on the
operating lever 5 and the support area 34 can be eliminated, which
is used to support the movement of the operating lever 5 in the
direction of the open position, wherein the operating lever 5 is
lifted from the busbar 3. Among other things, this also serves to
reduce wear or abrasion on the operating lever 5.
FIG. 5 shows that, in the closed position, the operating lever 5
does not project or substantially does not project beyond the outer
contour 27 of the insulating material housing 2.
FIG. 6, with the sectional illustration in the sectional plane G,
illustrates the fixing of the operating lever 5 in the closed
position. The operating lever 5 has the second guide section 55
projecting downward on the manual operating section 50, which at
least in this position of the operating lever 5 extends through the
lever lead-through slot 25 in the canopy 24. On the second guide
section 55, laterally projecting third fixing elements 60 are
arranged, for example, formed integrally on the second guide
section 55, which in the closed position engage behind the
underside of the edge portions of the canopy 24 and in this way fix
the operating lever 5. The canopy 24 can be formed by projections
inwardly projecting from opposite side walls of the insulating
material housing 2.
In the open position, the lever lead-through slot 25 is largely
closed by the area of the operating lever 5 that has the spring
driver 54, so that protection against contact is also ensured in
this position.
Generally speaking, there is an opening in the insulating material
housing 2, such as the lever lead-through slot 25, which is covered
by the operating lever 5 in the closed position of the operating
lever 5 and is thus shielded from the outside environment, wherein
the opening leads to electrically active components arranged in the
insulating material housing 2 such as the clamping spring 4 or
busbar 3, and the spring driver 54 in the open position of the
operating lever 5 at least partially closes this opening, at least
to the extent that contact protection is provided.
The previously explained elements of the operating lever 5 are also
illustrated by the various representations in FIGS. 7 to 9, which
show the operating lever 5 in a separate representation. What can
be seen in particular is that the operating lever 5 does not have
to be formed exactly symmetrical to a pivoting plane of the
operating lever 5. Instead, as illustrated in FIG. 7, the spring
driver 54 and the first guide section 57 connected thereto can be
arranged eccentrically, for example slightly offset to the side. In
order to optimize the assembly of the individual parts, in
particular the operating lever 5 in the conductor connection
terminal 1, the spring driver 54 itself can also be asymmetrical,
e.g. taper asymmetrically towards the end on one side.
FIG. 9a shows the operating lever 5 in a view in which the support
projection 58 can be clearly seen. The support surface formed by
the support projection 58 is shown hatched for clarity in FIG.
9a.
As is also made clear, the operating lever 5 can be designed as a
material and weight-optimized component with a series of recesses
that are interrupted by reinforcing walls and in this way ensure
the necessary robustness and rigidity of the operating lever for
the operating movements. The operating lever 5 can, for example, be
made in one piece as a plastic component, e.g. as an
injection-molded part.
FIG. 9a also shows that the operating lever 5 can have lateral
recesses 89. The lateral recesses 89 can be arranged, for example,
in the area of the second guide section 55 and/or the third fixing
element 60. In the closed position, the canopy 24 can be at least
partially received in these lateral recesses 89.
FIG. 9b shows the conductor connection terminal 1 in the open
position of the operating lever 5. As already mentioned, the lever
lead-through slot 25 in the canopy 24 is at least largely closed in
this open position.
FIG. 9b also shows that the insulating material housing 2 can have
a lever opening 88, which allows for installation of the operating
lever 5 in the final assembled insulating material housing 2. With
the insulating material housing 2 fully assembled, the operating
lever can be mounted, so to speak, from above through the lever
opening 88.
The lever opening 88 can be completely surrounded on the
circumference by the material of the insulating material housing 2,
i.e. by corresponding walls or other sections of the insulating
material housing 2.
FIG. 9c illustrates the particular proportions that the operating
lever 5 can have according to the invention. In the longitudinal
direction of the operating lever 5, i.e. in the direction a, the
operating lever 5 has the length a. In the rear area, the operating
lever 5 has its support area, which includes the third area 63, for
example. The operating lever 5 is mounted in the insulating
material housing 2 in this support area. The mounting area has a
length c in the longitudinal direction. Furthermore, FIG. 9c shows
the length b of the spring driver 54, which extends from the root
region of the spring driver 54, which is adjacent to the third area
63, to the free end in the longitudinal direction of the operating
lever 5. The ratio b/c can be, for example, at least 0.2 or at
least 0.25 or at least 0.3. The ratio b/a can, for example, be at
least 0.07 or at least 0.08 or at least 0.09.
FIGS. 10 and 11 show the clamping spring 4 in a separate
illustration. This also makes it clear that the clamping spring 4
has a root region 96 on the clamping leg 43, on which the clamping
leg 43 branches into the clamping tongue 44 and the operating arm
42. As can be seen, the operating arm 42 is designed with a
relatively large recess which forms the driver opening 46. Starting
from the clamping leg 43, only two relatively thin side webs 47
extend to the left and right of the contact leg 40. The side webs
47 can be made very thin, since they transmit a pure tensile force.
The contact leg 40 also extends through the recess. The operating
arm 42 can be produced from the same material together with the
clamping tongue 44 by separating the clamping tongue 44 from the
material of the operating arm 42, for example by means of a
punching process. Since the side webs 47 can be so narrow, this
leaves a relatively wide central material section for forming the
clamping tongue 44 so that a relatively wide clamping edge 45 can
be provided. This is beneficial for good electrical contact and
secure clamping of an electrical conductor. In addition, high
elasticity of the operating arm 42 is achieved by such narrow side
webs 47. In this way, the operating arm 42 is connected to the
clamping leg 43 in a relatively pliable manner.
Since the side webs 47 can be designed like "thin legs", they act
like a type of flexible connecting element, i.e. like a thread or
rope connection when subjected to tensile load. A relatively small
bending radius R3 at the transition from the operating arm 42 to
the clamping leg 43 or the narrow bend formed thereby causes a
stiffening in this area, so that the side webs 47 are quasi
stretched under the tensile load that occurs and experience almost
no elastic deformation in the form of a deflection.
The clamping spring 4 can be designed in one piece with all the
features described, that is to say made integrally from a flat
sheet of metal, e.g. punched from a sheet metal with a
predetermined thickness and bent.
It can also be seen in FIG. 11 that the material width of the side
webs 47 can vary over their longitudinal extent. For example, there
may be a gradation or a transition from an initially narrower
region starting from the clamping leg 43 to a region of the side
webs 47 that is wider towards the transverse web 48. The wider area
of the side webs 47 is particularly effective with a higher spring
load. In this case, the inner distance between the side webs 47 in
the area of the driver opening 46, in which the contact leg 40
projects through the driver opening 46, can be greater than in the
area of the driver opening 46, which is used to receive the spring
driver 54.
The clamping tongue 44 can in particular be trapezoidal or can
become narrower towards the free end. This has the advantage that
if the clamping spring 4 is positioned at an angle, the clamping
spring 4 does not block on the inner side surfaces of the material
passage 32.
The operating arm 42 has the transverse web 48 at the end. A bent
tab 93 projects from the transverse web 48. On the underside, i.e.
on the side facing the driver opening 46, the tab 93 forms the bent
support area 49 for resting on the socket support 59 of the
operating lever 5. The operating arm 42 can be produced in the end
area in such a way that the area with the transverse web 48 is bent
in a first bending direction from the side webs 47 and the tab 93
is bent from the transverse web 48 in another, opposite bending
direction. In this way, while avoiding excessive degrees of
deformation, a relatively large angle exceeding 90 degrees can be
achieved between the tab 93 and the side webs 47.
Accordingly, the operating arm 42 has two side webs 47, which are
spaced apart from one another and which are connected to one
another at their free end via the transverse web 48. The side webs
47 and the transverse web 48 enclose the driver opening 46, which
is used to engage the spring driver 54. The tab 93, which points
into the driver opening 46 and has a bend, adjoins the transverse
web 48 so that this bend forms a bent support area 49 on its convex
surface, which is designed for contact with the socket support 59
of the operating lever 5.
Accordingly, the free end of the operating arm 42 is bent away from
the spring arch 41 with the transverse web 48. The curvature or
rounding of the bent support area 49 is adapted to the shape of the
socket support 59 in terms of shape.
It can also be seen that the operating arm 42 branches off from the
clamping leg 43 relatively far at the end of the clamping leg 43,
but at the very least closer to the clamping edge 45 than on the
spring arch 41. The operating arm 42 thus runs at a minimal
distance from the busbar 3 (also see FIG. 1) in the assembled and
non-actuated state. The operating arm 42 accordingly runs
predominantly essentially parallel to the surface of the first
busbar section 30. In this way, a relatively large lever arm for
operating the clamping leg 43 is realized. As a result, the
operating force of the operating lever 5 can be reduced. The
operating arm 42 can extend along the first busbar section 30 to
beyond the bent area 35. The operating arm 42 can in particular
project with its driver opening 46 beyond the first busbar section
30, so that the spring driver 54 can engage in the driver opening
46 through the busbar 3 without hindrance.
The clamping spring 4 can be designed to be particularly elastic.
This configuration also prevents the clamping spring from tilting
significantly in the event of a diagonal pull.
The operating arm 42 can also be guided by a guide in the
insulating material housing, for example, an inner housing wall or
housing edge, in the longitudinal direction of the operating arm
42. Such an inner housing edge is formed, for example, by the free
end of the intermediate wall 26 extending into the interior of the
insulating material housing 2 (see also FIGS. 3 and 4). In this
way, a bending load at the transition from the operating arm 42 to
the clamping leg 43 can be further minimized. In addition, this
allows for the bent support area 49 in the socket support 59 to be
advantageously guided during a pivoting movement of the operating
lever 5 by guiding the bent support area 46 in the socket support
59 in the direction of a pivoting axis of the operating lever 5. In
this way, a clamping spring 4 with a shortened buckling length can
be realized. Such a clamping spring 4 is better protected against
undesired bending or kinking of the clamping leg 43 when a clamped
electrical conductor is pulled from the outside. The risk of the
clamping leg 43 buckling when mechanically pulling on a jammed
electrical conductor is minimized.
The distance, that is to say the gap between the operating arm 42
and the busbar 3, can for example be less than 1 mm, or less than
0.5 mm. An exemplary advantageous value is 0.3 mm. In this way, the
operating arm 42 does not yet touch the busbar, so that wear due to
friction is avoided.
According to an advantageous embodiment, the effective length of
the operating arm 42 with regard to the actuation, measured from
the junction of the operating arm 42 from the clamping leg 43 to
the bent support area 49, is greater than the length of the
clamping leg, measured from the junction of the operating arm 42
from the clamping leg 43 to the vertex of the spring arch 41. In
this way, a spring with a short buckling length and favorable
operating forces can be realized.
FIG. 12 shows the interaction between the clamping spring 4 and the
operating lever 5 when the operating lever 5 is in the open
position. The spring driver 54 projects through the driver opening
46. The advantageous interaction of the bent support area 49 with
the socket support 59 can again be seen.
As FIGS. 7 to 9 also show, the spring driver 54 has a width that
changes over its extension. This can, e.g., be realized in that the
spring driver 54 is narrower towards its free end, for example by a
one-sided or two-sided bevel. A first area 61 and a second area 62
adjoining the first area 61 can thus be formed on the spring driver
54. The first area 61 is narrower in the direction of the width of
the spring driver 54 than the second area 62. The spring driver 54
can then merge into a third area 63 which is wider than the second
area 62. In this way, the spring driver 54 can easily be inserted
into the driver opening 46. If the spring driver 54 is inserted
with its first area 61 into the driver opening 46, a guide for the
side webs 47 of the operating arm 42 can be formed by the second
area 62 and/or the third area 63 that follows when the operating
lever 5 is pivoted further. The guide can in particular be designed
as a guide on both sides for both side webs 47. This embodiment of
a spring driver 54 is suitable not only for an operating lever 5
with the pivotability described, but also for operating elements of
different types that are mounted displaceably, i.e. that are
designed in the form of a sliding element.
It can also be seen that the operating arm 42 essentially does not
change its position with respect to the clamping leg 43 in the
course of the operating movement of the operating lever 5. This has
the advantage that the transition point between the operating arm
42 and the clamping leg 43 is only exposed to slightly changing
bending loads during use. This is further supported by a
comparatively small bending radius at the transition from the
operating arm 42 to the clamping leg 43. For example, a mean
bending radius R3 of this bending area, which is at most three
times the thickness of the sheet metal, is favorable. This enables
the force of the operating lever 5 to be optimally introduced into
the clamping spring 4 via the operating arm 42. This results in
direct transmission, a short stroke and, as a result, essentially
no stretching in the operating arm 42. In addition, such a
construction allows for the components used and the entire
conductor connection terminal 1 to be manufactured easily.
The clamping spring 4 can thus be arranged with its predominant
parts and in particular with the operating arm 42 on one and the
same side of the busbar 3, in particular on the side from which an
electrical conductor is inserted into the conductor lead-through
opening 36.
FIGS. 13 and 14 show the busbar 3 in a separate representation. In
this case, the busbar 3 is also shown with a third busbar section
37 adjoining the second busbar section 31. In the third busbar
section 37, the busbar 3 has further conductor lead-through
openings at which further clamping points can be formed.
The first and second busbar sections 30, 31 have the elements
already described. In particular, the recess 33 for guiding the
first guide section 57 and the support areas 34 for supporting the
support projections 58 of the operating lever 5 can be seen. The
recess 33 can be arranged only in the second busbar section 31 or,
as shown, also extend into the bent area 35 or even as far as the
first busbar section 30. The recess 33 is enclosed on all sides by
the material of the busbar 3. It can be designed as a recess that
only partially penetrates the material of the busbar from the side
of the support area 34 or as a completely continuous recess
(without a bottom).
The busbar 3 is angled and/or bent by the bent area 35, i.e. in
such a way that an angle is formed between the first busbar section
30 and the second busbar section 31. The bent area 35 can form an
interior angle between the first busbar section 30 and the second
busbar section 31 in a range from 105 to 165 degrees or 120 degrees
to 150 degrees. The bent area 35 can be designed, for example, in
such a way that the busbar 3, starting from the second busbar
section 31, is initially bent concavely with a first radius R1 and
then merges into a convex bent section with a radius of curvature
R2, in each case in one viewing direction onto the support area 34.
It is advantageous if the radius R1 is larger than the radius R2,
for example, at least twice as large.
In this way, the operating lever 5 can at least partially also be
supported on the bent area of the busbar 3, i.e. in the bent area
35, and can run along it during a pivoting movement.
As an alternative to the one-piece design exemplified thus far, the
busbar 3 described can also be designed as a multi-piece design,
e.g. with two or more separate busbar sections. In particular, the
third busbar section 37 can be designed as a separate busbar
section from the first and second busbar sections 30, 31. This is,
e.g., advantageous for use in a disconnect terminal.
FIG. 15 shows a further embodiment of a conductor connection
terminal 1, in this case in the form of a terminal block, wherein
four conductor connection terminals 1 lined up next to one another
are shown as an example. The conductor connection terminals 1 have
the structure described above in the area visible on the left, i.e.
the arrangement with the busbar 3, the clamping spring 4 and the
operating lever 5 in the insulating material housing 2. In this
case, the busbar 3 is designed in accordance with the embodiments
of FIGS. 13 and 14, i.e. it has the third busbar section 37. The
third busbar section extends into an area of the respective
conductor connection terminal 1 shown on the right, in which at
least one second conductor connection 8 with a second clamping
point 9 is arranged in each case. In the exemplary embodiment
shown, each conductor connection terminal 1 has two second
conductor connections 8 and, accordingly, two second clamping
points 9. The respective second conductor connection 8 is
accessible via further conductor insertion openings formed in the
insulating material housing 2. An electrical conductor can be
inserted into the second conductor connection 8 in a conductor
insertion direction L2. The conductor insertion direction L1 can be
different from the conductor insertion direction L2.
The conductor connection terminals 1 have support rail fastening
elements 82 with which the respective conductor connection terminal
1 can be fastened to a support rail, for example by snapping it
onto the support rail. Relative to a fastening plane of the
conductor connection terminal 1 defined by the support rail, the
conductor insertion direction L1 can be arranged, for example, in a
range of 30 degrees to 60 degrees to the fastening plane, and the
conductor insertion direction L2 in an angular range of 75 to 105
degrees.
The support rail fastening elements 82 are arranged on a support
rail fastening side of the insulating material housing 2. The
operating levers 5 can be seen on the housing side of the
insulating material housing facing away from the support rail
fastening side, which is also referred to as the housing upper side
83. Here, the outer surface 65 of the manual operating section of
the operating lever 5 in the closed position has the same course as
the adjacent surface contour of the insulating material housing,
i.e. the adjacent parts of the housing top side 83.
The conductor connection terminal 1 in the area of the second
conductor connection 8 can be actuated by a further operating
element 81, which can be arranged either as part of the conductor
connection terminal 1, e.g. in the form of a pusher, in an
operating opening 80 of the insulating material housing 2, or can
be implemented by a separate operating tool that can be guided as
needed through the operating opening 80 to the second conductor
connection 8, but which is not part of the conductor connection
terminal 1.
A further embodiment of the clamping spring 4 and a conductor
connection terminal 1 formed therewith are shown using FIGS. 16 to
18. In contrast to the previously outlined embodiments, the
clamping spring 4 has an additional arcuate area in the area of the
clamping leg 43, which is referred to as the clamping leg arch 90.
In the area of the clamping leg arch 90, the clamping leg 43 is
bent towards the inner area of the space enclosed by the clamping
spring 4. The overload protection element 29 of the insulating
material housing 2 is adapted to the clamping leg bend 90. By means
of the clamping leg arch 90, a shortened buckling length of the
clamping leg 43 is achieved when the area of the clamping leg 43
between the clamping leg arch 90 and the spring arch 41 rests
against the overload protection element 29. Thus, when the
operating lever moves from the closed position into the open
position, the clamping leg arch 90 strikes the overload protection
element 29.
It can also be seen that the clamping spring 4 according to FIGS.
16 and 17 can have a different design of the clamping tongue 44,
e.g. with an initially decreasing width towards the clamping edge
45, which becomes larger again in the end section so that a
relatively wide clamping edge 45 can be provided with little
material. Alternatively, the clamping spring 4 can also have a
clamping tongue 44, as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11.
FIG. 19 shows the conductor connection terminal 1, which was
already explained above with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4, in a
representation similar to FIG. 4, but with different sectional
planes. In the conductor connection terminal 1 shown in FIG. 19,
the operating lever 5 is again in the open position. The operating
lever 5 is supported on the first support point 84 and the second
support point 85. The first support point 84 is formed between the
first fixing element 52 of the operating lever 5 and the second
latching edge 91; the second support point 85 is formed between the
fourth fixing element 64 of the operating lever 5 and the bent area
35 of the busbar 3.
A straight connecting line 86 is shown in FIG. 19, which runs
through the first support point 84 and the second support point 85.
A straight line 87 also shows the effective direction of the
tensile force acting on the operating lever 5 by the clamping
spring 4, which is transmitted via the operating arm 42. The
direction of the line of action 87 corresponds to the direction of
the operating arm 42 or the direction of the side webs 47 of the
operating arm 42. It can be seen that an angle .alpha. is formed by
the operating arm 42 or the line of action 87 to the straight
connecting line 86. The angle .alpha. is thus defined in a
mathematically positive direction from the line of action 87 or the
direction of the operating arm 42 to the straight connecting line
86. The angle .alpha. is advantageously less than 90 degrees. This
results in an advantageous funnel shape of the line of action 87 of
the tensile force or the direction of the operating arm 42 as
compared to the support plane that is formed by the first support
point 84 and the second support point 85 (shown by the connecting
line 86).
Based on the sequence of movements of the operating lever 5
illustrated by FIGS. 19 to 21, the advantageous force-reducing
mechanism, which is effective at least when the operating lever 5
is moved from the open position towards the closed position, will
now be explained. The operating lever 5 is supported at a main
contact point K1, K2, K3, K4, K5 in the conductor connection
terminal 1. Via the main contact point K1, K2, K3, K4, K5, the
largest force of the clamping spring that acts on the operating
lever is transmitted to at least one other element of the conductor
connection terminal. The main contact point K1, K2, K3, K4, K5 can
experience a discontinuous (abrupt) change of location several
times when the operating lever 5 is pivoted over its pivoting
range.
First of all, it is assumed that the operating lever 5 is
completely in the open position and is supported on the first
support point 84 and the second support point 85, as shown in FIG.
19. In this state, a first location of the main contact point K1
can be formed between the busbar 3 and the area of the operating
lever 5 supported on the busbar 3, e.g. at the second support point
85. The first location of the main contact point K1 can
alternatively also be formed at the first support point 84.
If the operating lever 5 is now subjected to force by the action of
a manual operating force on the operating section 50 in the
direction of the closed position, the pivoting process of the
operating lever 5 begins with a first instantaneous center M1 of
the pivoting movement being formed at the first support point 84,
i.e. between the second latching edge 91 and the first fixing
element 52. A second location of the main contact point K2 can now
be formed at the first support point 84. At the same time, the
latching at the second support point 85 is released, i.e. the
operating lever 5 is slightly raised in this area so that the
fourth fixing element 64 and its adjoining material areas are not
stressed by friction on the busbar 3 and are accordingly not worn.
As a result of this movement phase of the operating lever 5, the
second fixing element 53 can concurrently be lifted over the first
latching edge 21, so to speak, wherein a certain distance can arise
between the second fixing element 53 and the first latching edge
21.
FIG. 21 shows the further course of the movement of the operating
lever 5 when it is moved into the closed position. If the operating
lever 5 is moved further in the direction of the closed position,
the lateral support element 56 of the operating lever 5 comes into
contact with an edge of the insulating material housing 2. At this
point in time, the instantaneous center of the pivoting movement of
the operating lever 5 changes to point M2, as shown in FIG. 21,
that is to say to the contact point between the lateral support
element 56 and the insulating material housing 2. At this point, a
third location of the main contact point K3 of the operating lever
5 can now be formed for a further movement phase of the operating
lever 5.
The contact between the lateral support element 56 and the
insulating material housing 2 is again broken. The operating lever
5 can now slide along a guide track of the insulating material
housing with the second fixing element 53 or the underside of the
first guide section 57, so that a fourth location of the main
contact point of the operating lever 5 is now formed at this
location.
Furthermore, in the further course of movement, the support
projection 58 of the operating lever 5 comes into contact with the
support area 34 of the busbar 3, so that a fifth location of the
main contact point of the operating lever can be formed between the
support area 58 of the operating lever 5 and the support area 34 of
the busbar.
FIG. 22 now shows the position of the operating lever 5 when moving
from the closed position into the open position, shortly before
reaching the open position. The underside of the first guide
section 57 or the second fixing element 53 slide along a guideway
of the insulating material housing 2 or rest on this guideway
shortly before reaching the open position, so that the fourth
fixing element 64 and the support projection 58 of the operating
lever 5 opposite the busbar 3 are lifted or at least slightly
spaced. In the further course of movement of the operating lever 5
into the closed position, the second fixing element 53 moves behind
the first latching edge 21 of the insulating material housing 2, so
that the operating lever 5 is pulled under the action of the spring
force in the direction of the busbar 3 and the fourth fixing
element 64 rests on the bent area 35 (second support point 85) and
thus reaches its end position in the open position according to
FIG. 19.
The invention being thus described, it will be obvious that the
same may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be
regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention,
and all such modifications as would be obvious to one skilled in
the art are to be included within the scope of the following
claims.
* * * * *